[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S6657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control 
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain 
proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, 
the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be 
reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the 
notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant 
information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to 
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. 
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is 
available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations 
Committee, room SD-423.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  Defense Security


                                           Cooperation Agency,

                                                   Washington, DC.
     Hon. Robert Menendez,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 21-35, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Oman for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $385 million. After this letter is 
     delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to 
     notify the public of this proposed sale.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James A. Hursch,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 21-35

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Oman.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $185 million.
       Other $200 million.
       Total $385 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Forty-eight (48) AGM-154C 
     Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW).
       Non-MDE: Also included are Dummy Air Training Missiles; 
     Captive Flight Vehicles (CFVs) and/or Captive Air Training 
     Missiles (CATMs); Environmental Determination Test Vehicles 
     (EDTVs); Free Flight Vehicles (FFVs); containers; mission 
     planning; integration support and testing; munitions storage 
     security and training; weapon operational flight program 
     software development; transportation; tools and test 
     equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; 
     publications and technical documentation; personnel training 
     and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor 
     engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and 
     other related elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (MU-P-AAF).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None.
       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense 
     Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached 
     Annex.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: November 9, 2022.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                  Oman--Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW)

       The Government of Oman has requested to buy forty-eight 
     (48) AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW). Also included 
     are Dummy Air Training Missiles; Captive Flight Vehicles 
     (CFVs) or Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); 
     Environmental Determination Test Vehicles (EDTVs); Free 
     Flight Vehicles (FFVs); containers; mission planning; 
     integration support and testing; munitions storage security 
     and training; weapon operational flight program software 
     development; transportation; tools and test equipment; 
     support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and 
     technical documentation; personnel training and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $385 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of a friendly country that continues to be an 
     important force for political stability and economic progress 
     in the Middle East.
       The proposed sale would increase the Royal Air Force of 
     Oman's ability to secure Oman's borders, airspace, and 
     territorial waters. This expanded capacity will be a force 
     multiplier and help negate regional security threats. Recent 
     attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman have increased Oman's 
     need for weapons that enable it to defend its territorial 
     waters and ensure freedom of navigation. Oman will have no 
     difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and 
     Defense Company, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual 
     trips to Oman involving U.S. Government and contractor 
     representatives for technical reviews, support, and oversight 
     for approximately seven years.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 21-35

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act

                           Annex Item No. vii

       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
       1. The AGM-154 JSOW is used by Navy, Marine Corps, and Air 
     Force, and allows aircraft to attack well-defended targets in 
     day, night, and adverse weather conditions. The AGM-154C 
     carries a BROACH warhead. The BROACH warhead incorporates an 
     advanced multi stage warhead. The JSOW uses the Global 
     Positioning System (GPS) Precise Positioning System (PPS), 
     which provides for a more accurate capability than the 
     commercial version of GPS.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures that 
     might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the 
     development of a system with similar or advanced 
     capabilities.
       4. A determination has been made that Oman can provide 
     substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
     technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale 
     is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and 
     national security objectives outlined in the Policy 
     Justification.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal are authorized for release and export to the 
     Government of Oman.

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